Vietnam celebrates International Biodiversity Day 2013 through a week-long series of public events

HANOI, May 17, 2013 - Vietnam’s Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA), in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking Program (ARREST), will host a series of events in Hanoi open to the media to raise awareness of nature protection in the run up to International Biodiversity Day on May 22, 2013.

A national television public service announcement (PSA) about biodiversity in Vietnam is now airing across the country to remind people of Vietnam’s rich biodiversity, the threats to biodiversity, as well as the impact of biodiversity loss on humans. The PSA also informs the range of activities to be conducted during the week surrounding International Biodiversity Day. 

From May 13 through 21, a photo exhibit and logo contest on Vietnam’s biodiversity will be held at the main hall of Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Office. These activities are co-sponsored by BCA, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Center for Environmental Education and Communications, and Vietnam’s Environment Administration.

On May 21, the Hanoi Youth Union, with support from the BCA and USAID’s ARREST Program, will conduct a roundtable discussion on “Youth and Wildlife Conservation at the Hall of the University of Social Science and Humanity at Hanoi National University from 8 a.m. until noon. The discussion aims to increase awareness of biodiversity conservation in youth unions. Following the workshop, the Hanoi Youth Union will ratify a message on biodiversity conservation to convey and carry out together with provincial youth unions across the nation.

On May 22, MoNRE Deputy Minister, Dr.Bui Cach Tuyen, will host a ceremony for International Biodiversity Day and award winners of the photo and logo contest at Bach Thao Park starting from 07:30 a.m. to 09:30 a.m.  Afterwards, the Hanoi Youth Union will bicycle around Hanoi, bearing banners with messages promoting the need to protect biodiversity.

Also, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., panel of experts from various organizations will host a forum on new biodiversity conservation initiatives.  The partners involved in the forum include BCA, FREELAND Foundation, UNDP and SNV Vietnam.

The International Biodiversity Day celebration will continue throughout the day with family activities in Hanoi’s Bach Thao Botanical Park.

Journalists are cordially invited to participate in all three events.

For more information, please contact Siwaporn Teerawichitchainan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Note to Editors:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent U.S. government agency that operates under the foreign policy direction of the U.S. Secretary of State. Following 50 years of improving lives through development and humanitarian assistance, USAID is the principal U.S. government development agency partnering with countries throughout the world to promote peace, prosperity, and security. For more info, visit www.usaid.gov or vietnam.usaid.gov.

Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA)

Biodiversity Conservation Agency is the organization under the Vietnam Environment Administration, and performs the function of assisting the Director General of Vietnam Environment Administration to execute state management of conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity resources.

Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) is a USAID-supported anti-wildlife trafficking program implemented by the Freeland Foundation. ARREST fights trafficking in illegal wildlife in Asia in three ways: reducing consumer demand; strengthening law enforcement; and strengthening regional cooperation and anti-trafficking networks. ARREST unites the efforts of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and South Asia, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations.

FREELAND Foundation is an international organization dedicated to a world free of wildlife trafficking and human slavery. FREELAND works throughout Asia, raising public awareness and building local capacity to protect critical ecosystems, wildlife and vulnerable people. For more info, visit www.freeland.org and www.ithink-now.org.